Earl Lawson Town Park

A rather nice, quiet park is located in the Town of Busti. The playground equipment is rather dated, but this is one of the few playgrounds to have a merry-go-round as part of the play equipment. The park also sports a volleyball court with sand, basketball courts, tennis courts, and a picnic pavilion. The water fountain is powered by an old-fashioned hand pump, which children find quite entertaining.




Location:

Lawson Road, Busti, NY

(From Jamestown: take Southwestern Drive (Rte. 45) to the "5 Corners" intersection. Continue straight through the intersection and make a right on Lawson Road. The playground is about 1/2 mile up the road and on the left).

Amenities:

Picnic Pavilion
Playground
Water-pump water fountain
Volleyball Court
Basketball Court
Tennis Courts

Chautauqua Gorge

The Chautauqua Gorge is part of the NY State Forest system and has several trails for hiking, day-use picnic areas, and fire rings. Fossils can be found in the shale lining the river. The shale becomes very slippery in wet areas, so watch small children when hiking in wet areas.




Location:

Hannum Road, Chautauqua, NY. From Mayville, take Rte. 430 west to Hannum Road. Hannum road continues for some distance and becomes a dirt road. To reach the swimming holes, drive to the end of the road and park. The trail is at the end of the road and goes downhill to the river and swimming holes.

Amenities:

Picnic shelters
Fire rings
Swimming holes
Hiking trails
Fossils

Bergman Park

Bergman Park offers a very large playground with universal accessibility. There are two swing sets: one with toddler seats, the other with traditional swings and two five-point-harness swings. The larger play equipment has ramps and transfer stations, in addition to challenging rock climbing towers and spiral climbers.

There is a rocking airplane, car, and dinosaur, which are a big hit with the younger set. A digging toy is in one corner of the playground, however this is often flooded with stagnant dirty water. Deep rubber mulch covers the play surface, offering a safe play environment. Be aware that the black rubber mulch can get VERY hot on summer days, and will turn little hands (and faces and legs) black as children play in it.

Location:
487 Baker Street, Jamestown, NY 14701

Amenities:

Fenced playground
Toddler play equipment
Older child play equipment
Rock climbing wall
Picnic Pavilions
Bathrooms
Water fountains
Basketball courts
Baseball diamonds
Parking lot

Universal Access: Yes

Tom Erlandson Overview Park

This park offers a spectacular view of the surrounding countryside, and Chautauqua Lake on a clear day. There is a 1.2 mile hiking trail, two viewing platforms, a picnic pavilion, and a grassy meadow with rolling hills. This is the second highest point in Chautauqua County, at 2060 feet above sea level.

Location:

Oak Hill Road, Frewsburg, NY 14738

Amenities:

1.2 mile hiking trail with creeks and footbridges
2 viewing platforms
Picnic pavilion
Pit toilets
Potable water

Butterfly Room at the Jamestown Audubon

The Jamestown Audubon hosts a Monarch Butterfly exhibit at the end of August. The dates may vary, so check the official website for the time and date of the event. Children and adults enter a room with free-flying Monarchs. Monarch caterpillars are displayed in all stages of development.

There is a special "hold a butterfly" area, where parents may assist young children with holding one of the beautiful butterflies. The butterflies are tagged and released, so scientists can track their migration.


Location:

1600 Riverside Road, Jamestown, NY 14701

Date:

Generally held the last weekend in August.

Jamestown Audubon Center: Hiking

Inside the Exhibition Building with a White Tailed Deer Puppet

The Jamestown Audubon Center has several festivals in addition to its hiking trails. The Audubon Center festivals/events will be cataloged separately, as this post will focus on the hiking and nature exploration available at the Audubon Center.

The Center offers many hiking trails, including a paved, accessible trail which leads to an overlook of wetlands. The trails are flat, well maintained, and easily walked with small children. In addition, the Audubon Center offers several exhibits (including live reptiles and amphibians) in its main building for a small entrance fee. There are several learning activities for children, including a see-through beehive, puppets, puzzles, and examples of local wildlife.

Long boardwalk on the Spatterdock Trail

Investigating the Duck Pond

Looking for birds on a shaded trail

Outside of the main building, Liberty the bald eagle is on display. She was injured as a young bird and cannot be returned to the wild, and is cared for by the Jamestown Audubon Society.

"Fishing" in the exhibition building

Location:
1600 Riverside Road, Jamestown, NY 14701

Amenities:

Accessible, paved hiking trail
Flat hiking trails of various lengths
Liberty, the bald eagle
Exhibition building with interactive activities for children

Beach at Chautauqua Institution

The Chautauqua Institution is free to enter during the off season (approximately September-mid June). There is a nice, extremely shallow beach on the premises, with a small floating dock for children to play on. The Miller Bell Tower regularly chimes out the time, if you happened to forget your watch.

Amenities: Shallow swimming beach, sand, walking trails.

Location: 28 Cookman Avenue, Chautauqua, NY 14722

Note that the bathrooms next to the beach are closed in the off season, though restrooms near the coffee shop and library in the center of Chautauqua Institution are open year round.

College Park: The 100 Acre Lot

College Park (often referred to as the "100 Acre Lot") does not have any playground equipment, but it does have a fabulous creek (Moon Brook, a tributary of the Chadakoin River) for wading when the temperatures begin to climb! The area is also an ecological study area for Jamestown Community College students, and is near the Roger Tory Peterson Institute.

Location:

311 Curtis Street, Jamestown, NY

Amenities:

Picnic shelter
Creek
Hiking trails

Ellery Town Park

Ellery Town Park boasts 25 acres of fields, bike trails, and a fantastic playground for children. Playground elements include teeter totters, swings, jungle gym, spring horses, slides, tunnels, bridges, and monkey bars.


Location:

2880 Heineman Road, Greenhurst, NY

Amenities:

Playground for toddlers and older children
Soccer and ball fields
Basketball courts
Tennis courts
Restrooms (accessible)
Picnic shelter
Bike trails

Universal Access to Playground Equipment: No